• Throughout Scripture, land is described as a gift from God. Explore the different strands of the Bible’s approached to land. What responsibilities and obligations come with the gift of land? Is God’s gift of land only for one people? Consider refugee experiences throughout the world, past and present. How can the Bible and history be tools to build a future of just peace throughout Palestine-Israel and the world? Read the book Under Vine and Fig Tree: Biblical Theologies of Land and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict with your church or small group to learn more about these issues.
  • MennoPIN is part of the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation—a coalition of hundreds of groups that works to end U.S. support for Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem and support a U.S. policy that upholds freedom, justice and equality. Look on the U.S. Campaign’s web site as well as MCC’s Washington Office web site for ideas about how to urge your government to work for justice, peace and reconciliation in Palestine-Israel.
  • In recent years, due to the effects of the occupation and the diminishing infrastructure in the Palestinian territories, many Palestinian Christian families have immigrated to Western countries, causing the Palestinian Christian presence to decrease significantly. For those who remain, access to Jerusalem’s holy sites is restricted. Read Father Elias Chacour’s Blood Brothers, Rev. Mitri Raheb’s Faith in the Face of Empire, Jean Zaru’s Occupied with Nonviolence, or Rev. Naim Ateek’s A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation to gain insight into the Palestinian Christian experience. Or view the films With God on Our Side and The Stones Cry Out. Have your Christian education group write to your elected officials on behalf of Christian brothers and sisters.
  • Plan a Sunday of prayer and advocacy at your church focusing on Palestine-Israel. Include prayers for Palestinians and Israelis—for their security, freedom from violence, and future of peace and reconciliation—for example using the weekly prayer sent out by the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Contact MCC’s office in Washington, DC for ways to communicate your congregation’s prayers and hopes for peace, justice, and reconciliation in Palestine-Israel with government officials.
  • Religion is a very important part of the lives of the people of this region. Learn more about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the meanings these identities hold to the people here. Is there a mosque or a synagogue in your area?  Find out when the main Islamic and Jewish holidays are, and invite your church to send greetings to the leaders of these communities during the appropriate holidays.